Tottenham Vs Arsenal result rewrites momentum — Gyokeres and Eze double leave Gunners five points clear and Spurs facing urgent reset

What changes because of this match is immediate: after the north London derby, tottenham vs arsenal is no longer just local bragging rights but a swing in the title race and a pressure test for a new Tottenham manager. Arsenal's comfortable 4-1 win restored a five-point gap at the top and handed momentum to Mikel Arteta's side, while Spurs and interim boss Igor Tudor were left with blunt lessons to act on.

Tottenham Vs Arsenal: immediate consequences for the title battle and Tottenham's short-term plans

Here's the part that matters: the result pushed Arsenal back to a five-point lead over Manchester City at the summit of the Premier League, changing the tone around the title fight. That cushion exists alongside a reminder — Manchester City had closed the gap with victory over Newcastle United on Saturday evening — so the race remains active, but Arsenal regained the initiative. For Tottenham, the damage goes beyond one defeat: the match was Igor Tudor's first game in charge and produced a visible catalogue of issues he described as requiring habit change.

The scoreline and the key contributors

Arsenal beat Tottenham 4-1. Viktor Gyokeres and Eberechi Eze each scored two goals for Mikel Arteta's side; Eze put Arsenal in front from close range after 32 minutes and added a second either side of the interval, repeating a run of dominance after his hat-trick in the November derby. Randal Kolo Muani netted Tottenham's solitary goal. The overall flow left Arsenal dominant in threat and execution.

Managers' reactions, mood and immediate messaging from the touchline

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta was visibly pleased with the response after a midweek wobble. He said he felt proud and suggested the win could act as a turning point, stressing how the players reacted after squandering a 2-0 lead at Wolverhampton Wanderers earlier in the week. He highlighted individual responses — pointing to Declan Rice, who had made an error but recovered in the match — and praised Gyokeres for an efficient display. Arteta also explained his thinking on starting Eberechi Eze, referencing Eze's positive recent form and a half-time change in a previous match against Brentford that prompted a strong response. He framed the title push as a long marathon with cup and Champions League matches on top and urged enjoyment of the moment while taking things one at a time.

Tudor's first game: blunt assessment and the admission of work to do

Igor Tudor described the result as painful but useful for clarity. He said he was sad but thought the match showed where Tottenham currently stand, arguing the remedy is self-reflection and habit change. Tudor called for greater mentality and "brain sharpness, " saying his side has too many problems right now for a team at this level. He highlighted failed attempts to press high and a lack of confidence in possession, but also noted he saw passion and will and was not angry. When asked whether there is time to put things right, his response was affirmative.

• Arsenal restored a five-point lead at the top of the Premier League.
• Eberechi Eze followed a November hat-trick with two more goals in this derby; he had been close to joining Spurs in August before Arsenal secured him for a reported £60m.
• Viktor Gyokeres scored twice and earned specific praise for his overall play and efficiency.
• Randal Kolo Muani scored Spurs' only goal in Igor Tudor's first match in charge.
• Arsenal's midweek slip — surrendering a 2-0 lead at Wolves on Wednesday — was explicitly framed as the spur for this response.
• Manchester City's win over Newcastle United on Saturday evening had narrowed the margin prior to this fixture; mathematically, they remain in the race if a run of wins follows.

What's easy to miss is how the match combined individual vindications with systemic contrasts: Eze and Gyokeres delivered moments of finishing and efficiency while Spurs struggled with cohesive pressing and confidence. The real question now is whether Arsenal can sustain this reaction and whether Tottenham's new manager can translate blunt admissions into rapid improvement.

Short timeline and immediate next signals

• Midweek: Arsenal surrendered a 2-0 lead at Wolverhampton Wanderers (Wednesday).
• Saturday evening: Manchester City beat Newcastle United, closing the gap ahead of the derby.
• Derby: Arsenal beat Tottenham 4-1; Eze scored at around 32 minutes and again either side of the interval; Gyokeres also netted twice; Muani scored for Spurs in Tudor's first match. The next confirmation of momentum will be how Arteta's squad follows this performance in their upcoming fixtures and whether Tudor's squad shows early changes in press, confidence and physicality.

That is all for this live reaction coverage: a great day for Arsenal as they get back to winning ways on a painful afternoon for Tottenham and new boss Igor Tudor.